Udaipur, September 18: Political tensions have intensified in Fatehnagar-Sanwar Municipality ahead of the election for the chairman’s post, with the BJP and Congress engaged in a close contest and developments surrounding councillor Rajesh Chaplot adding to the uncertainty.
The municipality has 25 wards, with the BJP winning 13 and the Congress 12. The BJP therefore holds the majority mark, but the entry of Mamta Chaplot, wife of BJP councillor and former chairman Rajesh Chaplot, as an independent candidate has changed the political equations. The chairman’s post is reserved for a woman candidate.
The chairman’s election is scheduled for September 21, when the elected councillors will vote to choose the new chairperson.
Police Entry at Resort Triggers Political Dispute
The controversy escalated after a police team allegedly entered a resort where Congress councillors were staying as part of their political camp.
Mavli MLA Pushkar Dangi criticised the police action and alleged that the BJP government was misusing administrative machinery. According to Dangi, around 20 to 30 police personnel from different police stations entered the resort, checked individual rooms and examined CCTV footage.
Dangi questioned the legal basis for the action and alleged that the police did not provide a warrant or clearly explain the reason for the search.
He also claimed that a large number of BJP workers gathered outside the resort and that the situation was connected to political differences involving Rajesh Chaplot.
The allegations made by the MLA have not been independently established in the material supplied for the report.
Questions Over Police Action
Dangi and other local Congress leaders questioned the presence of police at the resort, arguing that elected representatives and their family members should not be subjected to such action without proper explanation.
The incident has raised questions over the circumstances and legal basis of the police visit. According to the video report, attempts were made to seek a response from police officials regarding any complaint, warrant or other legal grounds for the action, but no detailed official response was available at the time of the report.
Rajesh Chaplot Also Faces Property Notice
The political developments come amid notices concerning property linked to Rajesh Chaplot’s family.
The Fathnagar-Sanwar Municipality had issued a notice at Devileela Palace near Sanwar Chauraha over alleged construction contrary to the approved plan and issues related to land use. The notice sought documents related to land-use conversion and building permission.
A separate notice was subsequently delivered at Chaplot’s residence in Udaipur in the name of the UDA Tehsildar. Chaplot’s family has questioned the manner in which the notice was delivered and raised issues concerning the date and property details mentioned in it. These claims have been reported by local media and have not been independently verified.
Chairman Election on September 21
With the chairman’s election approaching, both parties are working to keep their councillors together. The contest has become particularly significant because the BJP has 13 seats—exactly the majority mark in the 25-member municipality—while the Congress has 12.
The election on September 21 will determine whether the BJP maintains its numerical advantage or whether the changing political equations lead to a different outcome.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.